photo: Horizon Leisure

The number of children being home-schooled around the world is increasing – government data from the UK, for example, estimates that during the most recent academic year there were 126,000 children being home-schooled at any one time in England, equating to around 1 in 100.

Many home-schooling families struggle to meet National Curriculum PE requirements and leisure centres and health clubs are in a unique position to bridge this gap by offering structured, curriculum-aligned activities. This not only supports families, but also provides essential socialisation opportunities for children; a key benefit for kids who can miss out on peer-to-peer interactions.

In the last nine months we’ve increased the number of daytime sessions we provide for home-schooled children from one session to eight sessions a week and we now offer gymnastics, trampolining and swimming lessons. Classes are at 76 per cent capacity and growing consistently.

The increase in sessions came about following engagement with local home-schooling community groups during which we discussed their needs, how the sessions could be organised, and what times would best suit.

Homeschooling costs parents a lot of money, as there is currently no state funding, meaning parents pay for all resources and activities. Opting for home-schooling usually also means one parent is unable to work, further increasing the financial burden.

As a result, we’ve made sessions affordable at £4.00 each and allow families to book in flexible, half-termly slots.

We’ve worked hard to listen to and gain the trust of families. We find they want their children to participate in small, age-appropriate and inclusive groups which guarantee acceptance for all abilities.

One parent told me: “My child is nervous about swimming on her back and the instructor hasn’t pushed that, instead working on building her confidence until she feels able to give it a try. This approach of listening to the child, rather than following a set curriculum, is something we value as a home-learning family and it’s great to see that ethos being applied in Horizon Leisure sessions.”

People home-school for a variety of reasons; sometimes their children can’t cope with mainstream education, others struggle with their mental health, some have SEN requirements, while others want their child’s learning to be more personalised and bespoke.

Through this understanding, our programme has improved, increased and – due to positive feedback and word of mouth – sessions are in demand and we’re now looking to further support families with more exercise-led classes.

This presents a win-win: revenue from a growing market segment, especially during the quieter times of the day, the building of lasting relationships with home-schooling families and increased participation.

By becoming a go-to hub for education and social development, we’re strengthening our role in the community and providing a valuable service to families.